he 2023 Ballon d’Or has gone to its worthy owner, Lionel Messi. The Argentine star has won the world’s most prestigious football award for the 8th time. Since the Ballon d’Or was born nearly 70 years ago, 64 players have been honored. On this occasion, The Sun revealed the list of the highest-earning Ballon d’Or winners:
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# CRISTIANO RONALDO 363 MILLION POUNDS
Ronaldo is not only the most famous athlete in the world with 876 million followers on social media, but also the highest-paid athlete in the world. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has an estimated net worth of £363 million. In December 2022, Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Al Nassr, with a salary of £62 million a year. Including bonuses and sponsorships, Ronaldo could earn up to £173 million a year at Al Nassr. The 38-year-old also has a lifetime contract with Nike worth £1 billion, which began in 2003.
# LIONEL MESSI 105 MILLION POUNDS
After moving to Inter Miami, Messi earns around £35-47 million a year. According to Forbes, Messi’s net worth is estimated to be £105 million in early 2023. This figure has certainly increased since Messi joined the MLS team. In addition to his salary, Messi also has a huge income from advertising contracts. Typically, a lifetime contract with Adidas in 2017 worth £20.4 million a year. Messi also has a fashion business, owning a chain of coastal hotels scattered in Barcelona, Ibiza, Mallorca, Baqueira and Sotogrande.
# KAKA 74 MILLION POUNDS
Kaka won the Ballon d’Or in 2007 after helping Milan win the Champions League. After retiring in 2017, the Brazilian is said to have a fortune of £74 million. It is worth noting that Kaka was the first athlete to reach 10 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). The 41-year-old former player currently has 22.7 million followers on Instagram. Kaka also has lucrative contracts with leading technology corporations such as OPPO, American Tourister and Playstation. Kaka once posed for a Playstation advertisement with Gareth Bale.
# KARIM BENZEMA 62.5 MILLION POUNDS
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Karim Benzema has a fortune of around £62 million. The French striker used to earn £275,000 a week when he was playing for Real Madrid. After joining Al Ittihad in the Saudi Arabian championship, Benzema has a huge salary of £3.3 million a week. Benzema is also a player who likes to spend money on luxury items. The French player used to wear a Richard Mille watch worth £435,000.
# MICHAEL OWEN £54.4 MILLION
Michael Owen is the winner of the 2001 Ballon d’Or. The former England player has an estimated fortune of £54.5 million. The 43-year-old former striker played for many top teams such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United before retiring with Stoke City in 2013. Owen currently works as a football commentator for BT Sport. The former England striker is also involved in horse breeding and founded Manor House Stables, a horse training facility in Cheshire.
# ZINEDINE ZIDANE £52 MILLION
The French legend was the inspiration behind France’s 1998 World Cup triumph. That same year, Zidane won the Ballon d’Or. After ending his brilliant playing career, Zidane continued to enjoy success as a coach, helping Real Madrid win the Champions League three times. Zidane earned £2.3 million a year while in charge of Real Madrid. The 51-year-old’s net worth is estimated at £52 million. Lucrative advertising deals with Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior also helped Zidane earn a fortune.
# LUIS FIGO 41 MILLION POUNDS
Luis Figo set a world transfer record when he moved from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 for £50 million. At Real Madrid, Figo earned £3.74 million a year. The Portuguese star scored 45 goals and provided 58 assists in 249 games for the Spanish capital club. According to Idol Net Worth, the 50-year-old former player currently has a fortune of £41 million. In 2017, Figo joined UEFA as an advisor, promoting tournaments.
# FABIO CANNAVARO £36 MILLION
Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or in 2006 after winning the World Cup. The 50-year-old is considered one of the best defenders in history. After retiring in 2011, Cannavaro has coached teams in the Middle East and China. Cannavaro was the highest-paid coach in the Chinese Super League, earning £10.6m a year. His net worth is estimated at £36m.
# RONALDINHO BANKRUPTCY
Ronaldinho won the Ballon d’Or in 2003 and was once one of the richest footballers in the world. At his peak, Ronaldinho was said to have a fortune worth £80 million. However, his lavish lifestyle and failed business ventures left Ronaldo in debt. In 2018, Ronaldinho was said to have had just £5 left in his account and was in debt of £1.75 million. After mortgaging his property, Ronaldinho was still unable to pay his debts. In 2020, Ronaldinho was detained in Uruguay for trying to enter the country with fake documents.
